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‘Yes? That’s okay, you don’t have to explain. It’s between you and your counsellor.’ Anna could feel her ear
s starting to burn all the same.
‘There’s nothing that says I can’t mention it either.’ Jamie shot her a thoughtful smile.
‘No. There isn’t.’ Anna was holding her breath. This was stupid, Jamie’s counselling sessions were none of her business. She still wanted to know what he’d said about her. Or maybe she didn’t...
‘I was talking about the weekend. You know I’m taking Jon down to my place in Hastings on Saturday, and Caroline’s bringing the children over?’
‘Yes, Caroline mentioned it the other day. Seems like a good idea. Jon’s been much better these last few days and it’ll do him good...’ The words dried in Anna’s throat. This wasn’t about Jon. It was about Jamie.
‘I was saying that you’d supported us both in keeping the lid on things. I wasn’t sure how we’d do on our own. Caroline’s great but she’s too close to it all and she gets upset when there’s any hint of an argument between Jon and me.’
‘He’s been baiting you, hasn’t he?’ Anna had noticed the jibes that Jon aimed at his brother from time to time. Jamie was one of the most easygoing people she knew, and he ignored them, but Anna could see him making an effort to hold his anger back.
‘Jon’s always been the more impatient of the two of us. He’s making a good show of things, and claiming he’s better and stronger now, but he’s still fragile. My role is to keep the peace and help him as much as I can.’
It was an approach. One that clearly took more heed of Jon’s needs than Jamie’s. ‘You might be right. What do you want of me, Jamie?’
‘It’s a big ask...’ He quirked his lips down. ‘Not much notice either, you’re probably busy...’
‘All right, so you’ve supplied me with an excuse to say no. You’d better give me a chance to use it.’
Jamie chuckled. ‘I was wondering if you fancied joining us. Not as an arbiter between me and Jon, just for a day out and some lunch together. Although I might glance in your direction from time to time, just to remind myself that I do need to keep a lid on things.’
Jamie needed this. Badly. He wouldn’t have asked if he hadn’t.
‘This is your family day, Jamie. Won’t Caroline feel I’m intruding?’
‘I mentioned it to her and she thought it was a great idea, if you’d like to come. She was expecting that her husband Harry would be there, but he has a meeting with a client who’s only in the country for a couple of days so it had to be Saturday. Harry runs his own architectural practice and this client wants to talk about a new project, so Caroline told him he must go and that she’d be all right on her own. I think she’s rather hoping she won’t end up being the only adult in the room.’
‘And what are you hoping?’ Jamie had tried so hard to keep his feelings under control and Anna had seen the toll it had taken on him.
‘I’m planning on being the perfect host. Caroline knows that, but she thinks your presence might remind both Jon and me that we still need to make an effort. She reckons that you have us both twisted around your little finger at the moment.’ He shot her his most compelling innocent look, and Anna’s heart jumped in her chest. ‘I haven’t a clue what she means, and I told her that she was imagining things.’
Twisted around her little finger. It was a breath-taking thought, not so much where Jon was concerned but Jamie... And he wanted her to be a part of his family day. Anna felt herself flush.
‘I’ve embarrassed you. It’s a bad idea, I shouldn’t have asked...’ Jamie’s face registered concern, and he was back-pedalling furiously now.
It would take just one nod to take everything off the table. They could finish their coffee, and Anna could go on to put the finishing touches to her non-existent plans for Saturday. That might be the best way forward, but Jamie needed her. If she needed reminding that he was just a friend, then she could imagine the look he gave her when he said it. As if friends were the most important thing in the world.
‘You should have asked. Because I’d like to come.’
‘Really?’ He seemed genuinely surprised.
‘We could have an adult conversation, if you like. About the weather, or something inconsequential.’
Jamie laughed. ‘That would be fantastic.’
CHAPTER SEVEN
SATURDAY MORNING WAS gloomy and overcast, but when Jon walked out of the clinic, with his brother by his side, he greeted the drizzle of rain and the open air with a broad smile.
Anna had hung back, wondering if Jon would take the front seat, but he held the door open for her and then climbed into the back of the car. Jamie didn’t even seem to notice his brother’s show of gallantry, and Anna settled into her seat. As they drove out of London the skies seemed to clear a little, and by the time they reached Sussex, the sun was out.
The old farmhouse stood back from the road a little. A silver SUV was parked in the drive outside, indicating that Caroline was already here with the children, and when they approached the door it flew open.
‘Uncle Jamie...’ The twins ran towards Jamie, and he bent to pick them both up, one under each arm, and whirl them around.
